Page 24 - Phantom of the Opera

and that you are treating me with complete disrespect. If you Gentlemen:
wish to live in peace, you must not take away my private box. We are very grateful for your kind thoughts, but you will easily
Your Most Obedient Servant, understand that we have no right to sit in Box Five, which is the
Opera Ghost. property of the Opera ghost.

Monsieur Richard had just finished reading the letter when "Oh, those two are beginning to annoy me!" shouted
Monsieur Moncharmin entered, carrying one exactly the same. Monsieur Richard.
They looked at each other and burst out laughing. And that evening Box Five was sold.
"They like this joke," said Monsieur Richard, "but I don't call The next morning, Monsieur Richard and Monsieur
it funny." Moncharmin found an inspector's report in their office. The
"What does it all mean?" asked Monsieur Moncharmin. "Do report said that something had happened the night before, in Box
they imagine that because they have been managers of the Opera, Five. There were people making a lot of noise and annoying
we are going to let them have a box for an indefinite period?" others. When the inspector went to the box, they did not seem
"I am not in the mood to let myself be laughed at for long," to be in their right mind and they made stupid remarks. He
said Monsieur Richard. warned them, but as soon as he left, they began laughing again.
"It's harmless enough," observed Monsieur Moncharmin. The other people in the opera house protested, so he called for a
"What is it they really want? A box for tonight?" guard to throw them out.
Monsieur Richard told his secretary to send tickets for Box "Send for the inspector," said Monsieur Richard to his
Five to Monsieur Debienne and Monsieur Poligny, if it was not secretary, Remy. And when the secretary returned with the
sold. It was not, and the tickets were sent off to them. The new inspector, "Tell us what happened," he demanded.
managers regretted that two men of that age could amuse "As soon as those people entered the box, they came out again
themselves with such childish tricks. and called the box-keeper. They said, 'Look in the box: there's no
one there, is there?' 'No,' said the woman. 'Well,' they said, 'when
•
we went in, we heard a voice saying that the box was reserved'."
The next morning, the managers received a card of thanks from "However," shouted Monsieur Richard, "there was no one in
the ghost: the box, was there?"
"No one, sir! No one at all, sir, I swear!"
Dear Mr. Manager:
"And what did the box-keeper say?"
Thanks. Charming evening. Daae wonderful. Carlotta as usual.
"Oh, she just said it was the Opera ghost!"
Will write you soon for my allowance of 20,000 francs.
"Send for the box-keeper!" shouted Monsieur Richard to
Kind wishes,
Remy. His anger was boiling up inside him. "Who is this Opera
O.G.
ghost?" he demanded to know.
On the other hand, there was a letter from Monsieur Debienne The inspector was desperate. He could not speak. He backed
and Monsieur Poligny: away.

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